Abortion And Emergency Care: What's At Stake In The Supreme Court's Latest Case

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in a case that centers on a conflict between a state law and a federal law over abortion. Here's what you need to know:

1. When A Pregnancy Becomes Life-Threatening: Idaho's law only allows abortions when a doctor determines that "the abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman." Doctors in Idaho say that the law is causing complications for patients who face serious pregnancy issues. For example, a doctor says that a patient whose water broke early was dismissed multiple times before seeking care and by the time she arrived at the hospital, she needed a blood transfusion due to blood loss. Doctors fear that the delay in care could result in more serious and permanent injuries, or even death.
2. The Impact On Hospitals: Administrators of Idaho hospitals say that the state's abortion law has led to a decline in out-of-state physicians, resulting in the closure of three rural hospitals' labor-and-delivery units. The law has also made it difficult to recruit new providers. This comes after Idaho already ranked 50th in the number of physicians per capita.
3. Fetal Personhood: Idaho's law uses the term "unborn child" instead of "embryo" or "fetus," implying that the fetus has the same rights as other people. Legal experts suggest that the Supreme Court's decision in this case could indicate how the justices will approach future conflicts over fetal rights.
4. The Political Implications: A decision is expected by late June or early July, which puts abortion back in the public eye shortly before the November election. The case also highlights the perceived lack of control that politicians have over the debate.